Cyclist Killed After Driver Opens Door In Long Island City, Knocking Him Into Traffic

A cyclist was killed on Tuesday after being struck by a driver who opened the door of his parked car, propelling the cyclist into the road, where he was fatally hit by a box truck, according to police.

The collision happened just before 3 p.m. on Tuesday, as the cyclist was heading northbound on 21st Street, approaching 46th Avenue, police said. The victim suffered severe trauma to the head and body, and was rushed to Booth Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The box truck operator remained on the scene, and was taken into custody for not having a valid driver's license. The driver who struck the cyclist with his door did not receive a citation or summons, despite the fact that "dooring" someone is illegal under state and city law.

After a cyclist was killed by a driver opening his door last month, attorney and safe streets advocate Steve Vaccaro told us that the city's Right-of-Way law could apply to "dooring," but that he was "not aware of a single instance of a Right-of-Way law to be used in this case."